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is the approximate location based on the latitude/longitude coordinates
provided to the NWS by the gauge owner.

Flood Impacts & Photos

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38

An unbelieveable flood. Water 4 feet above May 2011 flood. Levee at Mt. Carmel overtopped. Great flood destruction in both Indiana and Illinois affecting major power plant...residential and business areas. Indiana State Road 64 and nearby railroad flooded. Possible flooding to I-64.

36

Princeton Newspaper article during early May 2011 stated that the top of the Mt. Carmel, Illinois levee was 36 feet. A flood of this magnitude...assuming that Levee Unit #5 failed in western Gibson County... would rival March 1913 and cause widespread flood destruction.

35

Flood waters threaten Gibson Generating Station located in Gibson County Indiana just across the river from Mt. Carmel. In June 2008...it was the third largest power plant in the nation according to the Indianapolis Star. Its generated power went to 79 Indiana counties including the Indianapolis Area. Wabash River is at a record level...about one foot above the January 2005 flood and the local levees in the East Mount Carmel...Indiana area. Levee Unit #5 overtopped. A serious flood is in progress.

34.02

On May 3, 2011 a new record crest height was set. Water at the very top of Levee Unit #5 which protects a coal mine, 70 residences and ultimately Gibson Generating Station in the East Mt. Carmel, Indiana area. Water was within a foot of Indiana SR 64. Failure of this levee would flood Indiana SR 64.

34

Flood of near record height is in progress. In areas that are not protected by levees, water is similar to May 2011. Flood destruction could be great in much of western Gibson County Indiana and eastern Wabash County Illinois if agricultural levees fail. Although this is the highest river stage of record, the flood flow is still less than March 30, 1913. Such a flood flow would reach an estimated 36 feet. Maximum Probable Flood estimated at 39 feet given current hydrological conditions.

33.92

During the week of May 1, 2011 several local roadways flooded in Wabash County Illinois-even inside the City of Mt. Carmel stranding residents at or away from their homes. Greathouse Creek flooded 3rd St. properties across from Oak Street. Water surrounded Twins Rivers restaurant on 5th St. Flooded roads prevented mail delivery and bus service. A section of the Mt. Carmel levee near the approach of the old 1932 Wabash River Bridge was sandbagged.

33.9

On May 3, 2011 Gibson County officials go door to door notifying 70 families living near the Lyles Station area and East Mt. Carmel that Levee Unit 5 protecting western Gibson County may fail and asking them to voluntarily evacuate. Most residents opted not to leave.

33.81

At this level on May 1, 2011 and with Bon Pas Creek above 20 feet...extensive flooding occurred in Browns, Illinois on May 2, 2011. Locally heavy rainfall of more than 3 inches could not drain away because of extensive backwater from the Wabash River.

33.79

On May 3, 2011 Gibson County EMA concerned about levee protecting East Mt. Carmel, Indiana.

33.5

On May 2, 2011 the Indiana U.S. Geological Survey confirmed that backwater from the Wabash River extended all the way to the U.S. Geological Survey gaging site at Princeton, Indiana. The gage site at Princeton was at or near a record stage. On May 5, 2011 Old Illinois 1 north of Mt. Carmel remained flooded.

33

The Wabash River is at the flood crest of the Great March 1913 flood. All unprotected flood plain areas are flooded to within one foot of January 2005 flood. This includes the northern outskirts of Mount Carmel, Illinois, western Gibson County Indiana and eastern Wabash County Illinois. Extensive flood damage in unprotected flood areas. A flood with the flow of March 1913 would reach an estimated 36 feet and cause failure of agricultural levees and widespread rural flood destruction.

32.9

During June 2008 in Graysville...Illinois...the water chemical building...the water wells building...access road to the public wells and public facilities at the city boat ramp all flooded.

32

Beginning of a major flood. Extensive flooding of western Gibson County Indiana, eastern Wabash County Illinois and the northern outskirts of Mount Carmel. Numerous local roads are impassable. Some evacuations are necessary. Some agricultural levees fail.

31

Much of Western Gibson County is underwater. Some evacuations are necessary. New Baltimore (Black Hawk River Camp) about 1 1/2 miles south of Griffin floods extensively. Extensive flooding on the northern outskirts of Mount Carmel, Illinois. Numerous local river roads are underwater...some by a few feet. A few agricultural levees fail. River is 3 miles wide at I-64.

30.5

Extensive flooding in East Mt. Carmel Indiana. The road through East Mount Carmel is impassable. Most structures in this area are elevated 2 to 3 feet above current flood waters. Vehicles must be parked on higher ground.

30.1

Old Illinois 1 north of Mt. Carmel begins to flood around this level. Water overtops the Wabash District #1 levee located in the New Harmony area.

30

Extensive flooding in progress on the northern outskirts of Mount Carmel and in western Gibson County Indiana with some evacuations needed. Flooding may cause some evacuations and relocation of motorized land vehicles. Numerous local river roads are flooded. Beall Wood conservation area has 160-200 acres flooded. High water backs up into Bon Pas Creek. Browns, Illinois may be surrounded by water if heavy local rain occurs. River is 3 miles wide at I-64.

28.5

Extentive flooding in progress. Some residents along South Division Street in the Mt. Carmel area and in the Keensburg area must relocate. Several local roads are flooded...some by several feet of water. These include South Division Street...CR 1280 E...three township roads south of Illinois 1 near Keensburg in Illinois and Wabash River Road and Wilson Road near Little Rock in Indiana.

28

Critical Stage of Rochester-Mcleary Bluff Levee. Cattle and farm equipment must be moved. Most roads along river or near river are now impassible. Agricultural losses 100 percent in areas that are not protected by levees. The Wabash River is more than 2 miles wide at I-64.

27.5

In the City of Mt. Carmel...all local roads flooded east of the levee except for South Division. During March 2011...extensive flooding in western Gibson County with numerous county roads closed.

26.7

Wilson Road...a north-south road in Knox County near the confluence of the White and Wabash River...is flooded in the Little Rock area in 2 or 3 places. One location the water is too deep for vehicles. Extensive agricultural flooding progress in areas that are not protected by levees. Three Illinois township roads south of Illinois 1 between Keensburg and Grayville are for a total of 10 miles. Access to oil fields in the Keensburg and Grayville are blocked by high water.

26

Relocations of cattle and some farm equipment is necessary to higher ground. Agricultural losses are near 100 percent in areas that are not protected by levees areas. Extensive lowland flooding in western Gibson County Indiana.

25.5

Extensive lowland flooding in progress. Much of the flood plain activity is affected by high water. Numerous local river roads flood.

24

Extensive lowland flooding in progress. Some mobile homes must be moved if water rises higher. Installation of flood gate A at Mount Carmel is necessary. Access to local camp sites are blocked, but minimal impact to commercial activities because of gate closure. In Wabash County Illinois...CR 1280 E and South Division Street are flooded. Manual readings of river gage harder to get.

23.9

Extensive lowland flooding in progress. in Wabash County Illinois...South Division Street and 1.5 miles of CR 1280 E remained flooded. High water blocks access to cabins along South Division Street and some near by oil fields.

23.36

During June 2010 high water...backwater from the Wabash River was not detected at the Princeton gage site on the Patoka River.

22.9

Water begins to flow over River Road just north of Fifth Street in the Mount Carmel area.

22

Flood waters begin to affect residents of East Mt. Carmel, Indiana. Fifth Street that parallels river closes. Twin restaurant along the river also closes. Several local river roads flood.

21

River Road in the Mount Carmel, Illinois area begins to flood. Lowland flooding in progress. A few local river roads are closed by high water. During June 2010...backwater from the Wabash River was noted on the Bon Pas river gage near Browns Illinois.

20

River is bankfull in all locations. All oil field production ceases with the exception of pumping units on substructures. Access to these are by boat only. Agricultural losses increase dramatically. Farmers move livestock to higher ground. City of Mount Carmel leaves flood gates B and C in year round.

18.39

Pumping started at Mt. Carmel.

18

River is bankfull in nearly all locations. Many river cabins become inaccessible. Oil field producers stop most production where pumping units are not on substructures. Agricultural losses become more extensive. County road along the river settlement Pulleyville north of Mount Carmel floods.

17.5

During the wet Spring of 2009...water began affecting crop land on the Illinois side south of Mount Carmel on June 22.

17

Additional low crop land downstream of Mount Carmel begins to flood. Backwater from the Wabash River may begin to affect gage readings on Bon Pas Creek near Browns Illinois.

16

Agricultural flooding becomes more extensive. Water depth is now sufficient to result in some damage to crops. A few oil wells become isolated with access by boat only. Isolated roads near river become impassible.

14

River becomes bankfull in many locations. A small amount of lowland agricultural flooding occurs. This results in minimal crop damage during agricultural season.

12

In extreme lowland areas, sloughs near the river begin to fill reaching river water level. Lowland flooding occurs in 599 acre Beall Wood Conservation Area south of Mt. Carmel near Bellmont, IL.

River gage at Mount Carmel moved about 1,0000 feet south to the new Illinois SR 15/Indiana SR 64 bridge in early 2013 prior to the flood of April 2013. The datum of the gage remains unchanged, but the stilling well was replaced with a radar sensor. The gage is no longer located at the upstream railroad bridge.

The National Weather Service prepares its forecasts and other services in collaboration with agencies like the US Geological Survey, US Bureau of Reclamation, US Army Corps of Engineers, Natural Resource Conservation Service, National Park Service, ALERT Users Group, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and many state and local emergency managers across the country. For details, please click here.